Perth Glory FC has extended its winning streak to five Hyundai A-League matches with an emphatic 6-3 win over championship contenders Brisbane Roar.
In what was arguably the best 45 minutes of football in Hyundai A-League history Glory grabbed the three points in front of a season high crowd of 12,156 at nib Stadium on Saturday.
Andy Keogh opened the scoring, giving the hosts the lead in just the 5th minute of play. An extended run of possession in the final third eventually led to a slip pass from Gyorgy Sandor for Josh Risdon. The full back quickly knocked it over to Keogh, who finished with ease for his third goal in his last four matches.
Former Glory striker Jamie Maclaren equalised in the 17th minute, although he may have been in an offside position when he received the ball. Midfielder Thomas Broich found Matt McKay on the left side of the box, who then sent it in front of goal for a Maclaren tap-in.
Maclaren was involved in more controversy in the 27th minute when he was awarded a penalty as Aryn Williams collided into his back challenging for a header. Dimitri Petratos stepped up to the spot to take the penalty kick and slotted it past Ante Covic.
It didn’t take long for Glory to draw the score level, with Chris Harold scoring his sixth goal in as many games. Josh Risdon whipped in a sharp cross from the left side and Harold met it with his head, firing it past Theo.
Brisbane was back in front in the 36th minute with centre back Jade North heading home a Corona corner kick at the back post.
The frenetic pace to the match continued, with Nebo Marinkovic bringing the teams level once again in the 38th minute. “The Specialist” was given a free kick from 25 metres out, sending it around the wall and off the bottom of the near post and in for his third goal of the season.
Glory found the goal again just three minutes later, claiming its second lead of the match. Marinkovic turned from scorer to provider, sending a corner kick into the box that was met by Shane Lowry, heading it past Theo and into goal for his first as a member of his hometown club.
On the other side of half time Glory extended its lead to 5-3. Andy Keogh was taken down in the box by a sloppy challenge from Jade North and the referee pointed to the spot. Diego Castro took the penalty kick and knocked it home for his 10th goal of the campaign.
Glory capped off the win with a header from substitute Richard Garcia. Diego Castro had the ball on by-line and sent a sharp cross into the box, finished off by Garcia with a stooping header for Glory’s second six-goal performance in less than a month.
The win moves Perth within one point of sixth place.
Glory travels to Sydney next to take on Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday.
Perth’s next match at nib Stadium will be on March 7, hosting Newcastle Jets.
KEY MOMENTS
- 5’ Gyorgy Sandor slips Josh Risdon into the box, who centres it for Andy Keogh, the striker finishing it off for his third goal of the campaign.
- 9’ Chris Harold nearly scored his sixth in as many matches, but missed his right-footed effort just wide
- 13’ Corona tries his luck from distance, but misses well high of the mark
- 15’ Keogh strikes from an acute angle but only finds side netting
- 17’ Thomas Broich slips it to Matt McKay, who sends it in front of goal to Jamie Maclaren for the tap-in
- 24’ Harold’s shot from close range is blocked, Sandor with a chance on the rebound but he fires it high
- 27’ Aryn Williams called for a penalty after knocking Maclaren down while challenging for a header
- 28’ Dimitri Petratos slots the penalty kick past Covic for a 2-1 Roar lead
- 32’ Chris Harold equalises with a header from a Josh Risdon cross
- 36’ Corona corner kick met by Jade North at the back post, who heads it home
- 38’ Nebo Marinkovic equalised with a free kick from 25 metres out through the wall and off the bottom of the near post
- 41’ Shane Lowry scored his first goal with Glory, his header from a corner kick finding the back of the net
- 48’ Andy Keogh is chopped down by North in the box for a penalty
- 49’ Diego Castro slots the penalty kick home past a diving Theo
- 67’ Keogh puts a header on target, but it bounces into Theo’s hands
- 69’ Risdon fires on target from the left side of the box, saved by Theo
- 85’ Alex Grant puts a header on target, pushed over the bar by Theo
- 86’ Richard Garcia heads home past Theo, finishing off a cross from Diego Castro
WHAT THEY SAID
Kenny Lowe
“The players have an unbelievable work ethic. No one at the club will get too far ahead of ourselves”
“I think the fans got their money’s worth. That was a great game wasn’t it?”
“They’re a super side and they’ve come out to win the game, it’s a great advert for the league”
TEAMS
Perth Glory: 1. Ante COVIC (GK), 2. Alex GRANT, 3. Marc WARREN, 4. Shane LOWRY 7, Gyorgy SANDOR, 9. Andy KEOGH (21. Kosta Petratos 89’), 10. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 14. Chris Harold (11. Richard Garcia 84’), 17. Diego Castro, 19. Josh RISDON (C), 23. Krisztian Vadocz
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEO (GK), 3. Shane STEFANUTTO (14. Daniel Bowles 70’), 7. CORONA, 9. Jamie MACLAREN (8. Steven Lustica 74’), 13. Jade NORTH, 15. James DONACHIE, 17. Matt MCKAY (C), 19. Jack HINGERT, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Dimitri PETRATOS, 28. Brandon BORRELLO (10. Henrique 60’)
Scorers: Keogh 4’, Maclaren 17’, D. Petratos (PK) 28’, Harold 32’, North 36’, Marinkovic 38’ Lowry 41’, Castro 49’ Red cards: nil
Yellow cards: Keogh 54’, Grant 63’, Bowles 73’
